[Jolly Green]

This quite astonishing. I guess the key is to find out what IP addresse(s) this gadget is trying to phone home to - and block them on every router in the world.

We don't want no stinkin' Big Brother.

[pepsi_junkie]

You cant really block the units from phoning in. I dont have ReplayTV but I do have Tivo and I love it. But it has to phone in once a week to download program info. This allows it to not only provide an onscreen guide, but to use the intelligent features that make it worthwhile (auto-recording of favorite programs, guessing likely programs which fit my viewing preferences, etc). If you eliminate that phone call, you eliminate the value of the product, make it just a big VCR basicaly. According to the company, Tivo doesnt relay your viewing data, I hope it never does because if that starts I'll have a tough decision to make.

[gcruse]

Tivo uses your phone line and their own servers.